Rassie Erasmus says Saturday’s match against the Barbarians is a key early-season test and the ideal platform to assess the newcomers in a Siya Kolisi-led Springbok team.

The uncapped Asenathi Ntlabakanye and Vincent Tshituka have been handed starts in a lineup blending youth with World Cup-winning pedigree, while Marnus van der Merwe and Neethling Fouche are set to make an impact from the bench.

“They have all slotted into our systems really well and have a good understanding of what we want to do in this match,” said Erasmus. “It presents a fantastic opportunity to see how they measure up against experienced players in the Barbarians team.”

The Boks are treating the Cape Town Stadium clash with full Test-match intensity despite it not carrying official status: “This may not be an official Test, but we are approaching it as such, and a good result will hopefully set us on course for an exciting season,” Erasmus added.

With several Vodacom Bulls and overseas-based players joining the squad late after club commitments, Erasmus opted for combinations that have had two full weeks of training together. “We’ve selected players who are already functioning well within our structures,” he explained.

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Erasmus added that the match allows the Japanese-based players to hit match fitness and provides younger players with a genuine chance to stake a claim. “Asenathi, Vincent, Neethling and Marnus have all been impressive at training and for their franchises this season. We hope to see them replicate those performances.”

The return of World Cup-winning lock Lood de Jager adds experience to the pack, with Erasmus saying: “Lood is in great form and hopped straight back into the thick of things with the intensity and work rate we’re used to seeing.”

With familiar faces in the Barbarians squad and Erasmus having coached them previously, he expects a tough but unpredictable contest. “They don’t train together long, but they’re packed with talent. We know what to expect, and we’ll need to be sharp.”

Following this weekend’s fixture, the Boks face Italy twice and Georgia in the Incoming Series, and Erasmus stressed the need to build rhythm early: “This is a vital game for us to get our systems right for what lies ahead.”

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